Direct-action water-wheel



N. PETERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAFNER, WASHINGYON. D. C.

UNITED STATE-s STEPHEN HADLEY, JR., OF LYMAN, NEV HAMPSHIRE.

PATENT FFICE.

DIRECT-ACTION WATER-WHEEL.

To all whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, STEPHEN HADLEY, J r., of Lyman, in the county ofGrafton and State of New Hampshire, have invented certain new and usefulImprovementsin Water- Wheels; and I do hereby declare the following tobe a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference .being had tothe accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is an elevation; Fig. 2, aVertical section; Fig. 3, a plan of the buckets; Fig. 4., thesuspension-plates; Fig. 5,aplan of chute; Fig. 6, a plan of lower frame.

My wheel is divided for the purpose of using the water by impact orpercussion alone withoutany aid from reaction or centrifugal force.

The course of the water through my wheel is ina straight line, which Iconceive to be important to obtain its full force, and as the waterpasses onward with accelerated velocity I adapt my curves and increasethe diameter so as to effect this object, causing the iow to be naturaland with the least disturbance.

The construction is as follows: I form a suitable frame-work a as abase, at the center of which there is aspherical projection b upward, soconstructed as to be adjusted by setscrews. Upon this pivot b the lowerend of the spindle or shaft rests. This part of the shaft is enlarged,and on its lower end there is a concavity c, just fitting the pivot andforming the bearing of the shaft. Six pillars g (more or less) projectup from the baseplate d and sustain the chute d, which is cast with aiiange for the purpose of attachment to said pillars. Below this platethere is attached a bellshaped cap e, that just covers the buckets ofthe wheel, to be-presentlydescribed, said buckets running closeunderneath it. Above the lian ge the chute ascends in a true spiralscroll for a single turn and then projects upward ina straight line f tothe forebay or other place of supply, gradually enlarging in diameter tothe top,in which lI generally place a revolving or other sufii- 'tworings being concentric and connected by radial arms. Between these tworings there are three or more conical rollers m', placed radially andhaving set-screws through the outer ring to set them up for adjustment.The inner ring just fits and surrounds the collar of the upper bearing.Above these attachments there is a stout bevel or other gear-wheel'n,made conical on the under side corresponding with the disk below andresting upon the conical rollers. This gearwheel it is firmly keyed tothe shaft, which is thus principallly sustained as the wheel revolves.The wheel is of a bellshaped form, an outline of which is shown at p p,Fig. 2. The outer surface is concaved in its elevation. This forms thehub or base upon which the buckets s are affixed. These buckets runspirally around the hub, gradually diminishing in cross-section as theyapproach the periphery. They are in shape a semicircle in theircross-section, or nearly so, being twisted to the curve, so that thewater passing straight through the wheel shall have its course at alltimes perpendicular to the bucket, the straight line being Amaintainedby the bellv or concave form of the base upon which said buckets arefixed. The form and proportions of this part of the device are veryimportantras upon them depend the full effect of my invention. They mustbe so formed and arranged as that the water shall pass through the wheelin a straight line without deflection, the face of the wheel assumingthe proper concave for that purpose. The bucket must be so curved as tohave the water acting perpendicularly iipon it, and, lastly, as thewheel increases in diameter from the commencement of the bucket to itstermination the bucket shall diminish in capacity as the water becomesdiffused, and thus the velocity of the two becomes more equal.

vThe stationary cap over the buckets confines the water to its propercourse. and thus aids t-he eect.

Whole are required to produce the best effect, which I attain.

2. The adjustable collar, beve1-wheels, and gear-Wheel combined to tramand sustain the Wheel and adj ust it perfectly to the stationary parts,as herein set forth. I

3. In combination with the above-described wheel, the stationary capinclosing the moving buckets, as above specified.

STEPHEN HADLEY, JR.

Witnesses:

WM. GREENOUGH, JACOB HATZELL, Jr.

